According to a report from the NTSB, the tragic incident which happened this past New Year’s Eve, in Montgomery, Alabama, could and should have been prevented. The death of American Airlines baggage handler Courtney Edwards can be totally attributed to her inattention. She had been warned of the danger, “repeatedly.”
Report details tragic death
The investigation report has been released, detailing the cause of a tragic fatality. Courtney Edwards had been warned “repeatedly” not to walk too close to jet engines when they’re running. The 34-year-old baggage handler never seemed to understand the risk. Now, it’s too late. The American Airlines employee was sucked through the engine of an Embraer 175.
It happened around 3:40 p.m., local time, on December 31, 2022. The safety briefing they had “10 minutes before the airplane arrived at the gate” didn’t have a whole lot of effect. Neither did the “huddle” held shortly before the airplane arrived, “to reiterate that the engines would remain running until ground power was connected.”
The plane was parked at the Montgomery Regional Airport gate “with one engine running.” The plane was operated by Envoy Air as American Eagle flight ENY3408.” The aircraft usually gets power from an “auxiliary power unit” while on the ground but theirs wasn’t working, so they planned to leave an engine on.
Courtney Edwards died in the horrifying tragedy at the Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama on New Year's Eve.
Baggage handler sucked into jet engine was warned to stay back, NTSB says https://t.co/b0cwIx4a3k via @lawofficer
— Jim McNeff (@JimMcNeff) January 25, 2023
As noted in the report, “the flight crew reported that after an uneventful flight they elected to leave both engines running for the required two-minute engine cool down period.”
As the plane rolled up to the gate, “three ramp agents were present, but clear of the safety area.”
The report explains that “after stopping the aircraft and setting the parking brake, the captain gave the hand signal to connect the airplane to ground power.” He was shutting down the number 2 engine on the right as he signaled.
Co-pilot issued extra warning
As the captain was shutting down engine number 2, “the first officer opened his cockpit window to inform the ramp agent that the engines were still operating.” While the captain was reminding everyone to stay seated until the seat belt light goes out, everyone felt the jolt.
As stated in the report, “immediately thereafter, he saw a warning light illuminate and the airplane shook violently followed by the immediate automatic shutdown of the number 1 engine.”
Investigators had a video to work with which showed the entire tragedy as it happened. The report says footage clearly shows “the accident sequence” from when the plane was “being marshalled to the gate.”
#RIP #CourtneyEdwards
Airline Worker Killed After Being Sucked Into Plane Engine Remembered as 'Loving' Mom of 3 https://t.co/NCBS91p7jV via @people— Lorietha Causey (@Lorietha313) January 25, 2023
One crewmember chocked the nose wheel as the ramp agent “walked toward the forward cargo door located on the right side and near the front of the airplane.”
Investigators report that at the exact same time, “another ramp agent appeared walking towards the back of the airplane with an orange safety cone where she disappeared from view.” A third ramp agent can be “seen gesturing with his hand towards the back of the airplane” from a position near the right wingtip. He was yelling to alert the victim.
“The marshaller could be seen backing away from the airplane’s open forward cargo door and the ramp agent from the back of the airplane reappeared walking along the leading edge of the left wing and directly in front of the number one engine. She was subsequently pulled off her feet and into the operating engine.“
